RSSIke principal deserving of statewide honor
Eisenhower High School
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There are hundreds of high schools -- and high school principals -- in the state of Washington.
But there can be only one Washington State High School Principal of the Year 2008.
The award is given by the Association of Washington School Principals. And this year it was awarded to someone in the Yakima Valley.
Stacey Locke, principal of Yakima's Eisenhower High School, recently the recognition.
She says her inspiration came from her aunt, who was a second-grade teacher.
However, she says she had her own ideas about teaching.
" I just always wanted to be a coach, and great teachers coach in the classroom," she says. "Great coaches teach on the court. I just always enjoyed working where I can facilitate learning."
Locke, 50, attended Ellensburg's Central Washington University, where she received a bachelor of arts in education and a masters degree in education administration.
She went on to Pullman's Washington State University, where she earned her superintendent's credentials. She is also doctoral candidate in education leadership.
After college, she worked as the athletic and activities director at West Valley Junior High. She came to Ike as assistant principal. After three years, she was named principal.
In 2004, Locke was nominated for the Yakima School District's John McAlister Crystal Apple Award. And she received Distinguished Principal of the Year in the 3A/4A Columbia Basin League the last two years.
Now, she's a candidate for National Principal of the Year.
If she wins, Locke says it will be a great thing for the school, the community and the school district.
"To be able to attend
national conference and get our ideas and programs out would be phenomenal," she says. "It would also be cool to put Eisenhower on the map."
At the state level, Eisenhower gets the recognition of having the No. 1 principal for this year. But she says, to her, it's all about the students and staff.
"It's very much an honor to represent Eisenhower because of all the work the teachers have put in over these past five years," she says.
Jordan Lehrman, a 16-year-old junior at Ike, says, "I think she really deserves this award. She works hard for the school and should be recognized for that."
Locke isn't the only Ike administrator to be recognized.
Jim Wright was named Assistant Principal of the Year for the Columbia Basin League.
Wright, 56, has worked at Ike for 13 years. Before that, he spent 12 years at Davis.
For him, the award means a lot: "It was a real pleasure to know that my co-workers and such would nominate me for an award like this," he says. "It's an honor."
